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Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies Among Rice Farmers in Northern Ghana

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Abstract

In recent years, the effects of climate change on agriculture in northern Ghana have attracted the attention of researcher and policy makers. Stakeholders including research institutions have developed several climate-smart agricultural technologies aimed at reducing the negative effects of climate change on farmers. This study examined the factors influencing rice farmers’ adoption of these technologies using Multivariate Probit and Poisson regression models. Primary data were collected from 543 rice farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results revealed that the intensity of farmers’ adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies is positively influenced by farmers’ experience in rice cultivation, access to mass media, training, and perceived decrease in the amount of rainfall. On the other hand, farm size, the distance between farmers’ residence and farm sites, location and the observed increase in temperatures negatively influenced farmers’ intensity of adoption of the technologies. This study highlights the essential role of government regarding training of farmers and awareness creation for the adoption of the climate-smart agricultural technologies.

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Fig. 1

Source: Authors’ computation of rainfall data from Ghana Meteorological Service, 2019

Fig. 2

Source: Authors’ computation of temperature data from Ghana Meteorological Service, 2019

Fig. 3

Source: Authors’ computation of data from SRID, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, 2019

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Notes

  1. Northern, Savannah and the Upper East Regions of Ghana are part of northern Ghana.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contributions of Agricultural Extension Officers of all districts and regional offices of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture who provided the needed support to the research team during the data collection. The authors are also thankful to all farmers who participated in the study during the data collection phase, and lastly to all the anonymous reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Faculty of Agribusiness and Communication Sciences, University for Development Studies, P. O. Box TL 1350, Tamale, Ghana

    Abraham Zakaria, Suhiyini I. Alhassan & Shaibu B. Azumah

  2. Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness and Extension, P. O. Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana

    John K. M. Kuwornu

  3. Solidaridad West Africa, East Legon, Accra PMB KD 11, Kanda, Accra, Ghana

    Shaibu B. Azumah

  4. Department of Forest Science, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana

    Mercy A. A. Derkyi

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  1. Abraham Zakaria
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  4. Shaibu B. Azumah
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Correspondence to John K. M. Kuwornu.

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Zakaria, A., Alhassan, S.I., Kuwornu, J.K.M. et al. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies Among Rice Farmers in Northern Ghana. Earth Syst Environ 4, 257–271 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-020-00146-w

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